Mechanical dancing dolls



Nov. 3, 1959 Filed March 3. 1958 c. WILLIAMS 2,911,084

MECHANICAL DANCING DOLLS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Clifford L. Williams 1N VEN TOR BY QWw/zm WWW Hmm Nov. 3, 1959 c. L. WILLIAMS 2,911,084

MECHANICAL DANCING DOLLS Filed March 3, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 A Clifford L. Williams zNVENToR.

15W @mm Nov. 3, 1959 c. L. wlLLlAMs MECHANICAL DANCING DOLLS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 3, 1958 Fig. 5

ww. m1 L. m, d y f m w a W a 'United- States Patent lC) The present invention generally relates to an amusement device and more particularly to a mechanical doll construction which incorporates a plurality of dancing dolls which are operated in unison with a record player whereby the dolls will dance lin accompaniment to the.

music being played.

An object of the present invention is to provide a dancing doll construction which is mechanically operated by a-rotatable shaft driven by a motor which is coin controlled and is stopped in response to completion of a record played by the record player.

A further object of the present invention is to pro- Ivide a construction in accordance with the preceding object in which the rotatable shaft is provided with 'a plurality of serrated gears or plate members thereon in engagement with pivot levers which suspend the dancing dolls thus causing the dolls to dance when the shaft is rotated.

Another important feature of the present invention is to .provide mechanical dancing dolls which are incorporated: in an enlarged casing which also incorporates a record player therein.

.These #together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanyingI drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like Vparts throughout, and in which: Y, t Figurell is a perspective view of the construction of the present invention illustrating the housing with. the mechanical dolls therein;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal, plan sectional view illustrating the relationship of the record playerand mechanical dancingV dolls; A

,- Figure 3 is a detailed sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 3-3of Figure 2v illustrating the recordplayer and the relationship of the tone arm to the trip lever for stopping the dancing dolls; Y

Figure 4gis a detailed sectional viewtaken substantially vupon a plane passing along section line 4-4 of Figure 2;

H Figure 5 is afragmental sectional View taken substantially upon a plane passing along sectionline S-- 5 of FigureZ; l v- V -Y Figure 6 is a detailed sectional View taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 6-6 of Figure 2 illustrating the c oil controlled operating mechanism; and

Figure diagram for operation of the device.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, the numeral generally designates the casing in which the vmechanical dancing dolls of the present invention are housedand the casing 10 includes a bottom wall 12,H an upstandingf rear wall 14, atop wall 1,6, end walls 18 7 is a schematicfview illustrating the wiring ant-1.20, a, Kamperen? from Paneltnortisn 22 and a PYOfal after.

2,911,084 Patented Nov. 3, 1,959

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2 t front panel portion 24 which cooperate to form the front wall of the cabinet or casing. The bottom wall 12 is provided with depending supporting legs 26 of any suit able length for supporting the casing 10 in any desired position. f The casing is also divided into two sections by a transverse partition wall 28 disposed in mutually spaced relation to the end walls 18 and 20 and in parallel relation thereto. The `transparent panel 22 is provided with a peripheral framer 30 for mounting the same in the front of the compartmentto one side of the partition 28 while the pivotalpanel 24 is hingedly mounted at the bottom by hinge pins 32 and retained in closed position by a latch mechanism 34 with there also being provided a retainer chain 36 which limits the downward swinging movement of the panel 24.. The panel 24 is also provided with an opening 38 having a screen orl cloth member 40 therein with a speaker assembly generally designated by the numeral 42 disposed therebehind whereby sound produced by the speaker 42 will pass through the opening 38. Also provided in the pivotal panel 24 is a coin slot 44 for a purpose described herein- Mounted on the bottom wall 12 within the compartment `defined by and between theend wall 18 and the partition wall 28 is a record player assembly generally designated bythe numeral 46 and which may be of any suitable and conventional construction with there being provided the usual turntable 48 and tone arm 5!) which carries the pick-up needle or stylus 52. The turntable 48 carries the usual circular plate type record 5.4 and the record player 46 may be of the type which will play automatically a plurality of records or it 'may be, of the single playing type with the tone arm 50 beingV automatically operated so that when the record has completed playing, the tone arm will be disposed adja' cent the center of rotation thereof and by the usual; mechanism, the tone arm will be Vlifted and` swung out-` wardly to a normal position after which the'fre'e end thereof drops down to Van at rest position.` The: tone arm 50 `is provided with an upstanding pin 56 for 'engaging the spring urged trip lever-v 58,v

. position. The tone arm 50is provided vrwithan upstanding pin 56 for engaging the spring urged trip lever 58' mounted on a bracketll by a pivot pin 62. A spring.'A 64 interconnects the other end of the lever 58 'and the; bracket 60 for urging the lever 58 with the bottornfree edge towards the center ofthe record 54 whereby swing'-`v ing movement of the tone arm 50 inthe elevatedpositin towards a position outwardly of theedge ofv the record will cause the pin 56 to engage the bottom of the lever 58 thus swinging the same towards the partition-28 andy as the tone arm 50 drops downto the at restposition,

f metallic block 80 which is capable of being attracted bya stationarily mounted magnet 82.: The magnet- 82T is "supported on a shelf member 84 and also supported on the Yshelf member 84 is a stationary switch Contact' 86 ywhich is adapted to be engagedby the movable co`n' `tact"`78'when the yend of the lever 72 having the string.-v

66' attached thereto is moved downwardly. A coin chute' j or tube 88 is supported within thev casing and has adischarge end immediately above theinner end .v-of the' lever 72, wherein-coins 9,0 'discharged fromthe chut'e;

8 8 will fall directly on the lupper surface; of Y,the ileven;

` 72' thus pivoting the inner end thereof downwardly for urging the block of ferrous material 80 into contact with the magnet 82 and moving the movable Contact 78 into engagement with the stationary `contact 85 thus completing thefelectrical circuit from the conductor 92 attached tothe movablecontact to the conductor 94 connected with the stationary contact 86. The switch contacts 78 and, 86 will be retained in position as long as the magnet 82 retains the block 80 against the under surface thereof thus lretaining the lever 72 with the inner end thereof pivoted downwardly. After the record has completed playing andthe tone arm automatically moves back tolwards the outer edge of the record, the pin 56 on the tone arm`50 will engage the trip. lever 53 moving the bottom end thereof towards the partition 28 thus pulling onthe' string 66 and causing the inner end of the lever 72 to` be moved upwardly thus disengaging the 4metallic block 80 from the magnet 82 and'disengaging the movable contact 78 from the stationary contacts 86 thus breaking the circuit between the `electrical `conductors 92 'and 94. Also disposed in underlying relation to the nnerend of the lever 7?. is a coin box 96 supported by hooks 98 rthereon detachably engaged with supporting brackets 100.

` Mounted rearwardly of the record player construction 46 is an upstanding bracket 192 having an electric motor 104 supported thereon with the drive shaft 106 extending vertically and having a circular friction plate 108 mounted thereon for rotation about a vertical axis. The motor 104 is energized when the contacts 78 and 86 are in engagement with each other. An elongated shaft 110 extends through the partition 28 and is journaled in a bearing bracket 112 on the rear wall 14 and a bearing bracket 114 on the end wall 120. The inner end of the shaft 110 is provided with a circular friction disk 116 having the periphery thereof in frictional driving engagement With the upper surface of the friction plate 108 whereby driving force from the motor 104 will be transmitted to the shaft 110 thus rotating the shaft 110 about its longitudinal axis.

VDisposed in longitudinally spaced relation on the shaft 110 is a plurality of rotatable gear or serrated plate members 118. Disposed in spaced relation to the shaft 110 is an elongated support bar 120 having upstanding pairs of lugs 122 supported thereon. Disposed between the pairs of lugs 122 is a pair of pivot levers 124 extending to one sidepof the support bar 120. The free end of the levers 124 is in engagement with one of the serrated members 118 with a spring 126 being connected between the free end'of the lever v124 and the support bar 120 thus retaining the free end of the lever 124 in engagement with the serrated wheel or member 118 whereby rotation of the member 1181will cause oscillation of the lever 124 abo-ut the pivot pin 120 which mountsv the lever 124 on the bracket lugs 122. The outer end of the lever 124 is provided with a depending tiexible string 130 to which is attached and supported a pair of dancing dolls 132 of any suitable configuration with the flexible line 130 being divided in vany suitable manner whereby the dancing dolls will act substantially as puppets and will dance. in accordance with oscillation of the lever 124. Other of the levers which are `designated by the numeral 134 have the free ends. i

thereof pivoted to the lugs 122 by a pivot pin 136` and these levers extend in overlying relation to other of the rotatable serrated .membersV 118 and include a reversely bent spring tang or spring member 138 in engagement with the serrated wheel for oscillation of the levers 134 in the same manner as levers 124 but with the levers 134 being gravity urged into engagement with the rotatable wheels 118. The levers 134 are also provided with exible strings 140 suspending dolls V142 which are in the form of persons making music. Y Y i The front of the compartment which has the panel A 22-may'1be provided with a light 144 of Vanyisuitable con-y struction which may fb'e' of the iuorescent tube type l light lthe same for rellecting the light directly onto the dancing dolls 132 and 142. Thus with the present invention, the operation of the dancing dolls is coin controlled and by dropping the coin on the lever 72, the movable contact '78 will be brought into contact with the stationary contact 86 and the magnet 82 will holdthis contacting relation for driving the shaft through the motor 104. Rotation of the shaft 110 will cause agitation or oscillation of the levers 124 and 134 thus causing dancing or agitation of the dolls or puppets 132 and 142. When the record is completed, the tone :arm will lift `and swing outwardly and engage the pin 56 with the trip lever 58'for stopping the shaft 110 by pulling the movable contact 78 away from the stationary contact.

T he foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and def scribed, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A mechanical dancing doll assembly comprising a casing having a transparent front panel, an elongated support bar disposed rearwardly of the transparent panel and generally in parallel relation thereto, a rotatableshaft disposed substantially parallel and adjacent to said bar, a plurality of levers pivotally mounted on said bar and having one free end extending remotely therefrom, means on said shaft for engagement with said levers for causing oscillation of said levers upon rotation of the shaft, and means on each of said levers for supporting a doll therefrom whereby oscillation of the levers will cause dancing movement of the dolls, said means for supporting the dolls including ilexible strings for suspending the dolls behind the transparent panel for permitting oscillationk thereof.

2. The combination of claim l wherein illumination means is provided for the dancing dolls.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said means on said shaft for engaging the levers includes a pluralityof longitudinally spaced serrated circular plates, certainvof said levers being spring urged into engagement with certain of said serrated plates, and other of the levers being gravity urged into engagement with other of said serrated plates. i

4. The combination of claim l together with means for rotating said shaft.

5 The combination of claim 4 wherein said means for rotating said shaft includes an electric motor, coin controlled switch means for energizing said motor,fsaid switch means Yincluding apivotal lever having a movable contact thereon, a stationary contact mounted on support means, a coin tube disposed adjacent one end of said lever for discharging coins onto the lever for causing temporary unbalance of the lever for movement of the movable contact into engagement with the stationary contact'for energizing the motor, and magnetic means holdingthe movable contact in contact with the stationary contact, saidmagnetic means being rendered ineffective lin response to completion of the playing of a record on a record player.` Y,

6. -The combination of claim 5 ywherein said magnetic means includes 'a permanent magnet mounted on a sup-` port and a block of ferrous material mounted on the lever whereby the magnet will hold the lever in contact closing position, a flexible string connected with the lever on the" opposite side of the pivot support for the leverfrom the block of ferrous material whereby movement'of the flex ible string in an upward direction lwill cause movement of the ferrous yblock'away from the magnet thus ,moving the contacts.` ingremote relation, said string being com nected to 'a pivotal trip lever, said 'trip leverv being' mounted on a support and disposed in the path of movement of a projection on the tone arm of a record player thus moving the Vmovable Contact away from the stationary contact when the tone arm of a record player returns to an inoperative position after completion of a record.

7. In combination with a record player having a tone arm automatically moved back to a normal position after the record has been played, a series of dancing dolls,

means for supporting and agitating said dolls, said means 10 6 being driven by a coin controlled electric motor, and

means responsive to movement of the tone arm of the record player back to a normal position for stopping the y electric motor and dancing dolls.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

